Prosecutors also requested a 20 million won (£10,108) fine for the company operating the Seoul restaurant, which is accused of violating the Food Sanitation Act.

The case arose after officials spotted references to ant dishes on blogs and social media.

Prosecutors allege the restaurant imported dried ants from the US and Thailand from 2021, serving an ant-topped sorbet around 12,200 times over four years and generating about 120 million won (£60,647) in revenue.

Only 10 insect species are approved as food ingredients in South Korea, and ants are not among them.

The restaurant disputes the prosecution’s figures, arguing many customers declined the ant topping and noting that ants are used in restaurants in several other countries.

Sentencing is due on 2 September.